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T he Parfait Mareschal, 1696. HYGINUS GROMATICUS, Liber de lVIunitionibus castrorum, A.D. 1l0. LAYARD, D. P., Nature, Cau se and Cure of Contagious Distemper among Horned Cattle, 1757. LITTON, E., Distemper among Horned Cattle, 1750. MARKHAM, G., Mai sterpeece (at least 21 editions), 1610-1723. MAs CALL, L., First Booke of Cattell, 1587. MORTIMER, C., D istemp er among the Cow Kind, Phil. Tran s., 1745, xliii. NEWCASTLE, Duke of (WILLIAM CAVENDISH)' New Method and Extraordina·ry Invention to Dress H orses, 1667. NICHOLS, J ., Progresses and Public Processions of Queen Elizabeth, 1788. OSMER, W., D issertalion 011 Horses, 1756; Treatise on Diseases and Lamenesses, 1759. OWEN, A., A ncient Laws of Wales, 1841. RILEY, H. T., Memorials of L ondon , 1868. RUFFus , G., Libru di Manischalchia, Manuscript, c. 1520 (B.M. 'Bar!. 3535). SMITH , Sir F., Early History of Veterinary Literature and its British Development, 1919, i ; 1924, ii; Hi story of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, 1928. SNAPE, A., Anatomy of an Horse, 1683. TAPLIN, W., Gentleman's Stable D i)'ectory, 1778, at least 15 edit ions. W OOD, 1. , Compendious Treati se of Farriery, 1757, Supplement, 1758. Y. B. = Year Boo/is. Reports of Cases in King's Courts, 13th to 16th centuries. REFERENCES. (1) Y. B., 43 Ed. III, f. 3!'l, pI. 38 (1369). (2) Y. B., 10 Hen. VI, f. 49, pJ. 5. (.0 ) Letter from R.S., Lambeth Library, dated Jul y 30th, 1594. (4) Hore, H istory of Newmarket, ii , 6. (J) Smith, Hist. R .A. V.C., p. 5. (6) Gervase Markham left on hi s death in 1637 an unpublish ed MS . entitled " Le Marescale or Horse Marshal. " Smith, Early History oj Veterinary Literature, 1919, i, p. 236. (7) .S mith, Hi st. R .A. V.C., p. 6 . (8) Vol. ii, p . 88. (9) Since those days there h ave been J ames Syme, Alex . Cru m-Brown, W. H . Flower, William Turner, J . Burdon Sanderson, J . G. McKendrick, W . D. Halliburton, Sims Woodhead, a nd Noel Paton.

HINTS FOR VETERINARY INSPECTORS. By W. JACKSON YOUNG, F.R.C.V.S., D.V.S.M. (VieT.). N en'castle-upon- Tyne.

THE duties of part and whole-time veterinary inspectors in Grea t Britain are ever increasing, and it is regrettable that more of a helpful nature is not recorded for thE' benefit of those who hold office or who are about to take up the duties of an appointment for the first time. The veterinary inspector is an important official and his actions are frequently criticised by those inside and outside of hi s profession. His services are in much request and he is required to be prepared for duty at all times. He m eets all sorts and condition s of men and animals and has many difficulties to overcome. It would be exceedingly difficult to fi nd a more versatile official as his duties are various, never monotonous, and always accompanied by a large amount of responsibility. In the following notes, no attempt will be given to furnish a complete catalogue of the necessary equipment that each veterinary inspector should possess, but information will be given concerning matters that the writer has found useful to him in the course of a busy life.

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K OWLEDGE OF PATHOLOGY AND BACTERIOLOGy.-An intimate knowledge of the diseases mentioned in legislation is req uired. Such can be obtained by careful observation and the study of text-books and numerous t echnical journals. Under this heading might be included facts concerning the etiology, semeiology, post-mortem appearances, differential diagnosis, and methods of control and prevention. The beginner would do well to have a note-book with such information summarised for each disease, and it would be found of the greatest value when in the midst of other duties he is suddenly confronted with a disease with which he has had little or no experience. K:-;OWLEDGE OF LAW.- It is essential that copies of the various acts and orders and regulations under which the inspector functions should be possessed and kept in a convenient and methodical manner. Laws lend themselves to easy classification and suitable files should be used for their reception. It is preferable to obtain King's Printer's copies of them rather than trust to books that contain reprints with annotations. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries wisely issues a very convenient handbook of the acts and orders dealing with matters that come within the province of inspectors appointed in connection with the Diseases of Animals Acts, and all veterinary inspectors should insist that copies of this book be supplied to them by the bodies employing them . The inspector, veterinary or lay, who does not know his statutory powers, will find himself in difficulties sooner or later. The importance of such knowledge req uires to be stressed. The writer deplores the fact th a t many veterinary inspectors are not supplied with necessary information concerning law, but sees that much good will arise from the full use of the veterinary inspectors' sections of many divisions of the ational Veterinary Medical Association of Great Britain and Ireland. It would be well if the various Government Departments would send copies of new legislative measures and relative literature to the editors of the veterinary periodicals. Several constahularies in this country have issued to their members small pocket books which contain useful summaries of the laws pertaining to the diseases of animals. The suggestion is here made that the" National" might do something on the same lines for its members. FORMs.-In connection with public work , they are necessary . They are drawn up with considerable care and are of very great assistance in securing uniformity in connection with restrictions imposed and the information desired in reports.

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Were it not for the existence of forms containing questions, some inspectors would furnish meagre reports and others might write treatises. An adequate supply should be retained by each inspector, and the writer disagrees with the practice adopted in some districts of the veterinary inspector being supplied with the relative form by a police officer when a suspected case is encountered. The forms invariably state where copies are required to be sent, and the veterinary inspector should retain a copy for reference. The storage of the n ecessary documents is a simple matter and lends itself to methodical arrangement. Nests of drawers, foolscap or quarto size, can be obtained at reasonable prices, and form very convenient receptacles. Strong foolscap envelopes are used for this purpose by many, and the outside of the envelope should clearly state the contents. Under no consideration should a report or form be sent in the same parcel a<; a specimen. OVERALL CLOTHING.- In dealing with suspected outbreaks of the scheduled diseases, it is advisable to wear clothing that can be readily cleansed a nd disinfected . The wearing of suitable boots and overall clothing is prescrihed for veterinary inspec tors, who are instructed to inquire into a suspected case of foot and mouth disease. "The Local Authority shall supply to every sllch veterinary inspector the boots, overall clothing and disinfectants required to be used." Rubber or oilskin coats are found the m03t suitable. Various patterns of rubber boots are obtainable, but the writer invariably uses those with thick soles and canvas lining. For use with rubber boots, Arctic socks a re made, and are fo und economical. A veterinary inspector is well advised to carry such equipment with him in his car , and thus be ready for any emergency. In order to thoroughly cleanse and disinfect the overall clothing a sponge and portable sprayer will be found useful. Sprayers are obtainable that occupy ve ry littl e room in a car. OTHER EgUIPMENT.- All veterinary inspectors should possess a microscope, stains, and other items used in connection with the examination of material that cannot be properly examined _by the naked eye or hand lens. Before proceeding to a suspected case of anthrax, the inspector should arrange to take the microscope, slides, staining reagents, blotting paper, cotton wool or tow for plugging the natural orifices, disinfectant, small puncturing scalpel, forceps capable of heing disinfected, and a spirit Bunsen lamp.

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Cotton wool swabs on wire inside glass or metal tubes should also be taken. Instead of carrying methylated spirit, the writer has for several years used " Meta" or " White Coal" as a convenient and portable source of heat. This substance chemically known as Metaldehyde," is sold in the form of cakes. It is produced in Switzerland by the passage of electricity through an electric furnace containing coal and lime. It has a decided advantage over alcohol inasmuch as it do:!s not evaporate when left exposed. When lighted with a match, it burns with a light blue flame giving off no smoke, and leaving no ash. No special apparatus is required to contain it when ignited, as it does not melt and run about. When incompletely burned it gives off a faint odour resembling apples, or formaldehyde . Very much of this interesting material has been used by me for fixing blood smears, for heating stains, and for boiling scrapings tak~n from sheep affected with sheep scab. For sheep scab duty, the veterinary inspector should provide himself with a good hand lens, tin boxes with glass lins, slide:>, cover glasses, labels, mounting needle and a small supply of Farrant's Med ium . Paint sticks ot various colours are also useful for marking sheep and other animals , and should be carried at all times. Similar equipment wouln be suitable for work in connection with parasitic mange of equines. For taking scrapings a pocket knife, or safety razor blade, can be used. For swine fever duty, the following equipment should be taken : post-mortem knife, bowel scissors, rubber gloves, waterproof paper, receptacles for viscera and the relative labels, together with a supply of the necessary forms. In connection with foot and mouth disease, the use of a small mouth gag and an electric torch will often be found very useful. The practitioner who finds that he has encountered this disease should take very full precautions before visiting other stock. His car should be thoroughly disinfected and his clothing submitted to gaseous formaldehyde, which can be obtained by pouring formaldehyde solution on to potassium permanganate. For duty in connection with the Tuberculosis Order, and the Milk and Dairies Acts, receptacles suitable for samples of milk, sputum, and other suspected material, should be taken. For the proper microscopic examination of milk samples a centrifuge is a necessity. Various patterns are obtainable at reasonable cost. In connection with meat inspection, the inspector should possess a suitable knife which can be shut.
OTHER

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Proper office equipment is essential. Filing cabinets- preferably those capable of taking papers of foolscap size-will be found very convenient. A typewriter and its accompaniments are necessary in order to cope with the vast correspondence that comes to the lot of the official who is required to spend very much of his time outdoors, and who has very frequently to answer letters hurriedly on his return. Copies of all letters and reports should be retained. Rulers, compasses, directories, and a good supply of maps are useful adjuncts. Lists should be available for quick reference of all farmers, knackers, valuers, ra t catchers, dealers, castrators, and medical officers of rural and urban district councils, in the area in which the veterinary inspector functions. A list of telephone numbers frequently used should be compiled. The veterinary inspector should know all police officers, medical officers of h ealth and stationmasters in his area.

REPORT OF THE ANIMAL AID WORK OF THE RICHARD MARTIN SOCIETY AT CARRAROE IN 1928. By KATHARINE LAMB, M.R.C.V.S., Carraroe, Co. Galway, Irish l ree State. SIN CE the beginning of the work of the Richard Martin Society in Carraroe in 1928, a good foundation has been laid towards the furtherance of the aims of the Society. Carraroe and the surrounding villages cover an area of 25 square miles. The population in this area is a hout 2,500. There are 400 householders. Each owns about 15 acres of rocky land, two cows, three calves, six sheep, two pigs and a pony or a donkey. A few people own more than this and many own less--even as little as two or three acres and only one cow. The village is 30 miles from Galway, with no communication by rail, and only bus communication twice a week. Conditions a re more primitive than one wo uld think possible. Until now no veterinary surgeon has been available for a ttendance on the sick animals, since, I think, about 1914, when a Government scheme was abandoned . These are the conditicns in the vicinity of the dispensary, but there a re miles and miles of similar country. The mOl e I have to do with the an imals here, th e more necessary it appear s to me, for th e owners to have an opportunity of seeking skilled advice, as to the m anagement and treatment of their animals, whether h ealthy or sick. Everywhere I go I find results of errors ot diet, misjudged